The Rugby Championship LIVE scores: Argentina vs South Africa

Argentina vs South Africa: The Springboks battle the Pumas to stay in the hunt for the Rugby Championship title.

The circus act masquerading as rugby that went down at Docklands has left the All Blacks sporting a five-point cushion on the standings over both South Africa and Argentina.

The Springboks can keep their fate in their own hands if they secure a big win and while the same is true of the Pumas, they have a mountain to climb in terms of points difference and will need a favour from the Wallabies, who themselves retain an outside shot of lifting the trophy if they can secure a bonus point win in the final round.

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The Rugby Championship: Argentina vs South Africa LIVE scores

Teams: Argentina vs South Africa

Pumas’ coach Michael Cheika has made seven changes to the team announced on Thursday for the weekend clash in Buenos Aires.

Reeling from defeat to New Zealand in their last outing, Cheika has changed both props, with Eduardo Bello introduced at loosehead and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro at tighthead as Thomas Gallo and Joel Scalvi drop to the bench.

There are two more changes in the pack with Matias Alemanno recalled at lock and Juan Martin Gonzalez picked at blindside.

Gonzalo Bertranou gets the nod ahead of Tomas Cubelli at scrumhalf, with Jeronimo De La Fuente returning from injury at outside centre and Lucio Cinti picked on the left wing.

Argentina

15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Lucio Cinti, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez; 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro

Substitutes: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Matias Moroni

South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber named an unchanged starting team for their must-win Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday, with the coach making only three changes to the replacements bench.

Talented young loose forward Elrigh Louw takes over from Duane Vermeulen on the bench, while Faf de Klerk returns as scrumhalf cover in place of Cobus Reinach, while Andre Esterhuizen gets a run in place of Warrick Gelant.

South Africa

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Andre Esterhuizen, 23 Frans Steyn

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